'Great British Bake Off' host Sandi Toksvig quits show after three series

The broadcaster, 61, is bidding adieu to the famous tent.

2020-01-16

Sandi Toksvig has announced she is standing down as co-host of The Great British Bake Off.

The veteran broadcaster, who was among the few openly lesbian women on British television at the time of her coming out in 1994, is leaving the famous Bake Off tent after three series.

Toksvig had hosted the show alongside Noel Fielding since 2017, when the pair replaced Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc following Bake Off's highly-publicised move from BBC One to Channel 4.

"When stepping down from a job it is quite common for people to say they are doing so in order to spend more time with their family. Unusually I am departing from the Great British Bake Off so I can spend more time with my other work", Toksvig, 61, said in a statement.

All pud things come to an end. The upcoming series of The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off will mark the end of Sandi’s magnificent stint as a presenter on the show. We would like to thank her for all the wonderful memories and wish her the very best for the future. #GBBOpic.twitter.com/aEnEu00fqu

"As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show. Spending time with Prue, Paul and Noel has been one of the great pleasures of my life. These are friendships which I know will continue beyond the confines of television.

"Bake Off is a wonderful programme which has already proved it can happily withstand a change of hosting personnel. The reason for that, of course, is that the true stars of the show are the bakers themselves. I wish everyone well.”

Chief Creative Officer and Executive Producer for Love Productions Richard McKerrow said: "We’ll always be incredibly grateful to Sandi for becoming one of the hosts of Bake Off when we moved to Channel 4, along with Noel, Paul and Prue.

"She has contributed hugely to Bake Off over the last three years, with her sharp witty sense of humour and her passionate commitment to the dozens of bakers during her time in the tent.

"We wish her all the very best on the exciting projects she is currently working on and beyond.”

Ian Katz, Director of Programmes at Channel 4 said: ”Sandi is a huge part of why Bake Off’s move to Channel 4 has been such a success and we are immensely grateful for her contribution to the show.

"We will miss her warmth and wit, not to mention her endless willingness to be the butt of jokes about being the least tall person in the Bake Off tent.

"Fortunately, her unique voice will continue to have an important presence on the Channel with new shows in development - none of which involve cake."

Meanwhile, we recently caught up the The Great British Bake Off's most recent champion, David Atherton, to find out how he came to terms with his sexuality after being brought up in an evangelical Christian family - click here to read more.

The Great British Bake Off will return for series 11 later this year on Channel 4.